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CAPS Policy – Parent Rights and Responsibilities No.: CAPS/00-3 Effective Date: 10/01/2016 Revised: 03/02/2026 Revision Effective: 03/02/2026

CAPS Policy Manual

Page 19 of 109 LEGAL AUTHORITY: Federal Register: 45 Code of Federal Regulation (CFR) 98 and 99.

Cross Reference/See Also: CAPS Application Process Policy (CAPS/00-4), CAPS Eligibility Requirements Policy (CAPS/00- 6), CAPS Priority Groups Policy (CAPS/00-7), CAPS Family Fee Policy (CAPS/00-9), CAPS Case Change and Documentation Policy (CAPS/00-13), CAPS Program Integrity Policy (CAPS/00-16), CAPS Grievances Policy (CAPS/00-17), CAPS Administrative Hearings Policy (CAPS/00-18)

Note: Definitions of words or phrases in bold are located in Definitions and Acronyms. Only the first occurrence of the defined words or phrases are bolded.

3 PARENT RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Purpose The purpose of this policy is to provide the rights and responsibilities parents are required to abide by in order to receive Childcare and Parent Services (CAPS) services.

Scope This policy applies to all employees of the Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL), all parties responsible for the administration of the CAPS program, parents, and child care providers who receive subsidies administered by DECAL on behalf of parents.

Parent Rights 3.3.1 The parent has the right to apply for assistance, withdraw the application, request termination of assistance, or reapply for CAPS at any time. 3.3.2 The parent is authorized to receive child care services as long as funds are available, and the parent remains eligible and has complied with all CAPS program requirements. 3.3.3 The parent has the right to choose any eligible child care provider within the limits prescribed in CAPS Participating Provider Policy (CAPS/00-11) and CAPS Provider Rights and Responsibilities Policy (CAPS/00-12). 3.3.4 The parent has the right to enroll their school age child in any educational program of their choice that is actively participating or eligible to participate in CAPS. For CAPS purposes, a child that turns 5 years old by September 1 of the current school year, enrolled in and attending Georgia’s Pre-K and Head Start are considered school age. The school age child who is 5 years old by September 1 is eligible to attend public school. Therefore, CAPS will only pay on a before and after school scholarship while school is in session. 3.3.5 Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) recipients have the right to be informed of the availability of exemptions from mandatory participation in employment services activities if appropriate child care is not available, affordable or cannot be accessed. 3.3.6 Parents who state that they or their children have been victims of domestic violence or who state that they are at risk of further domestic violence must be informed of the available community services that assist victims of domestic violence and how to voluntarily and confidentially access such services. 3.3.7 The parent has the right to have access to their child during all times the child is in child care. 3.3.8 Information that is provided by the parent and placed in a database used by the CAPS program will remain confidential in accordance with any applicable state or federal regulations. 3.3.9 Information provided may be disclosed, discussed, or shared with other state agencies and outside organizations as permitted by law for purposes directly connected with the administration of public assistance. 3.3.10 The parent may be contacted from time to time about participating in research studies pertaining or related to the CAPS program. Participation in any research is optional and has no impact on eligibility for the CAPS program. 3.3.11 Parents may choose to receive important updates and notifications from the CAPS program via SMS (text messaging). Participation in this messaging service is voluntary and has no impact on eligibility for the CAPS program. To begin receiving text messages from CAPS, parents may opt in by texting CAPS to 1-833-685-4957. By